The Man Booker International Prize celebrates translated fiction at its finest. Now an annual prize awarded to a single novel or collection of short stories, it can truly highlight the best of translated fiction from around the world. Both the writer and the translator will be rewarded equally for their contribution, showcasing the crucial role they each play in the finished book.
We are pleased to announce the longlist of titles for the 2016 prize. There is a fantastic breadth of talent across the chosen books, and these titles would be ideal for reading groups looking to try something different. Click on any title for more information or to leave a review.
2016 longlist
• A General Theory of Oblivion by José Eduardo Agualusa, translated by Daniel Hahn (Harvill Secker)
• The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante, translated by Ann Goldstein (Europa Editions)
• The Vegetarian by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith (Granta)
• Mend the Living by Maylis de Kerangal, translated by Jessica Moore (Maclehose Press)
• Man Tiger by Eka Kurniawan, translated by Labodalih Sembiring (Verso Books)
• The Four Books by Yan Lianke, translated by Carlos Rojas (Chatto & Windus)
• Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujilla, translated by Roland Glasser (Jacaranda)
• A Cup of Rage by Raduan Nassar, translated by Stefan Tobler (Penguin Modern Classics)
• Ladivine by Marie NDiaye, translated by Jordan Stump (Maclehose Press)
• Death by Water by Kenzaburō Ōe, translated by Deborah Boliner Boem (Atlantic Books)
• White Hunger by Aki Ollikainen, translated by Emily Jeremiah and Fleur Jeremiah (Peirene Press)
• A Strangeness in My Mind by Orhan Pamuk, translated by Ekin Oklap (Faber & Faber)
• A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler, translated by Charlotte Collins (Picador)
The prize shortlist will be announced on Thursday 14 April and the winner will be announced on Monday 16 May.
Boyd Tonkin, chair of the 2016 judging panel, had this to say of the longlist:
“For the first longlist in its new form, the Man Booker International Prize invites readers to share a thrilling journey of discovery across the finest fiction in translation. The 13 books that the judges have chosen not only feature superb writing from Brazil to Indonesia, from Finland to South Korea, from Angola to Italy. Our selection highlights the sheer diversity of great fiction today. From intense episodes of passion to miniature historical epics; from eerie fables of family strife to character-driven chronicles of urban life, this list showcases fiction that crosses every border. It also pays tribute to the skill and dedication of the first-rate translators who convey it to English-language readers. Please join us on this fantastic voyage.”
Get involved
We have a great opportunity for six of our reading groups to shadow the Man Booker International Prize. Your group will receive a set of one of the shortlisted titles in return for your reviews and joining in the conversation about the prize. All interested groups must complete this short form before 5 April.
What do you think of the longlisted titles? Which have you read? Share your thoughts on Twitter using #MBI2016 and #FinestFiction, add your comments below, or leave a review for any of the titles by clicking on them above.
For more information, please visit the Man Booker Prize website or follow Man Booker Prize on Instagram.
